United Kingdom - Fire in a five-star London hotel Friday morning caused the 10-story building to be evacuated as more than 30 firefighters battled the flames, authorities said. The blaze at Mayfair's Athenaeum hotel in central London started at around 7:30 a.m. in the building's basement, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Six fire engines responded to the alarm as firefighters managed to contain the fire and brought it under control after about three hours.

"The cause is under investigation. Crews acted quickly and stopped the fire from spreading further, and the damage was kept to the basement," a London Fire Brigade spokesman said.

The Athenaeum is a family-run luxury hotel popular with celebrities such as Russell Crowe, Dustin Hoffman and Mick Jagger, the Telegraph said.

Written by United Press International